In an innovative step suggested by co-author Anora McGaha’s husband Martin McGaha, a QR code to the book’s website was added to the back cover.

The use of QR codes in advertisements in magazines and mail has increased enormously in recent months.

More small business stores are including the QR codes on printed sheets of paper in their store windows. Chains tend to have a fancier version of the QR code laminated, though still taped to their windows.

How many books have begun using QR codes on their covers is not yet known. Initial research on the “social media” section of Barnes and Noble didn’t show any as of June 2011.

Social Media for Business inserted QR codes at the end of several chapters asking readers for feedback and linking them to blog posts on their website to respond.

As we were finalizing the cover in June, reviewing the first proofs, Anora McGaha’s husband Martin McGaha suggested adding a QR code to the cover, and that led to Anora creating QR codes to specific blog posts on this blog, to make it quicker for readers to add comments on particular topics in the book. Several chapters have questions for readers to respond to, and now, a QR code for them to scan with a smart phone.

At the time, we hadn’t seen the use of QR codes either on book covers or within books or magazines to send readers to a site.

April, 2011 Selling Books and ebooks with QR Codes has several creative suggestions primarily making QR codes visible on signs or flyers, posters and give-aways like magnets, rather than specifically on a book cover.

Want to use a QR code on your cover? Inside your book or pamphlet? In other printed materials? There are a few things to learn about. Search Google or YouTube (if you prefer watching videos) for more information, and we’ll post more on another post.

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Find down-to-earth, insightful, practical and valuable practices, tips, perspectives and explanations in Social Media for Business by Martin Brossman and Anora McGaha with chapters by 20 contributors. Written by small and micro business owners, with direct experience that can help and guide you in using the Internet and social media to grow your business, referral partners and your reputation, this book will help you and your business.